FC Augsburg picked up three important points to kickstart the second half of the season. Florian Niederlechner scored his first two goals of the season as the Fuggerstädters beat Union Berlin 2-1, their first home win since the end of October. 

Heiko Herrlich made two changes to the team that narrowly lost to Bayern on Wednesday night: Tobias Strobl and Florian Niederlechner came into the starting XI while Rani Khedira started on the bench and Ruben Vargas was out injured. 
Union capped off a superb first half of their season with a sixth place ‘finish’ and took control of this game straight away. FCA let the visitors come at them, kept their shape and gave them very little room to play in higher up the pitch. Union enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the early stages, but struggled to find a way through Augsburg’s defence. After a missed chance from Robert Andrich, Augsburg struck at the other end. A long ball from Gikiewicz was flicked on by Andre Hahn for Niederlechner, who smashed home from the right hand side of the penalty area into the far corner of the net. 
    
The lead gave FCA confidence, but the Iron’s response did not take long. Awoniyi teed up Marcus Ingvartsen at the edge of the box, and the ball was hit cleanly into the bottom corner for 1-1. Nevertheless, FCA remained the better of the two teams, but a combination of alertness and precaution on both sides meant neither side created any more chances before half time.

Niederlechner doubles his money – Gikiewicz saves penalty 

FCA came out for the second half raring to go and took the lead with the first chance of the half. Richter’s cross found Hahn, but the German’s effort was parried away by former FCA goalkeeper Andreas Luthe. The rebound, however, was gobbled up by Niderlechner, who simply pushed the ball over the line – his second goal of the day. Augsburg 2-1 Union (47’).

Union very nearly responded in a similar fashion as they had to the first goal. After goalscorer Niederlechner stood on Prömel’s foot in the penalty area, referee Felix Brych had another look and pointed to the spot. Ingvartsen stepped up, but Gikiewicz denied him to save the day for Augsburg (56’). Just four minutes later, Gikiewicz was on hand again to thwart Union’s next golden opportunity – this time saving from Awoniyi just a few yards out. Felix Uduokhai came to the rescue and cleared the ball away from Prömel, who was about to capitalise on the rebound.  

Der FCA hatte sich nach der erneuten Führung zurückgezogen, stand im Anschluss an diese Doppelchance aber sehr sicher und ließ bis zum Schluss so gut wie nichts mehr zu. Gleichzeitig sorgten die Fuggerstädter mit Nadelstichen immer wieder für Entlastung. Weil in der Nachspielzeit Christopher Trimmel knapp verpasste (90.+3), stand am Ende ein Sieg zum Start in die Rückrunde. 

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